Half-centuries from David Hussey and Aaron Finch kept Victoria on top on the third day at the MCG, where they set Queensland 400 for victory. By the close of play, the Bushrangers needed a further nine wickets to end the Bulls' unbeaten streak, while Queensland at 1 for 35 required a further 366 runs, with Joe Burns at the crease on 27 and Wade Townsend on 4.

Victoria will hope for more wickets from the captain Cameron White, whose legspin has hardly been seen in recent seasons. White collected 5 for 59, his first five-wicket haul in a Sheffield Shield match in nine seasons, as Queensland were bowled out for 295 on the third day.

Chris Hartley (62) and Cameron Boyce (57) provided an especially useful 88-run partnership for the ninth wicket that forced Victoria to go for quick runs in their second innings to set a target. The first-innings centurion David Hussey made an unbeaten 76 and Aaron Finch scored 82, his first strong innings of the Shield campaign, as the Bushrangers declared at 3 for 196.

Should the Bulls chase down their target, they will have six wins from six matches this season. "It's a lot of runs," White told reporters after play, "but it's a fantastic batting wicket so it's going to be hard work to try to dig out nine more wickets."